Infant swing

ABSTRACT

An infant swing comprises a seat with a padded seating area for an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area, the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms. The swing also comprises two pivot housings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardly extending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from a substantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivot housings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivot housings; and at least two feet in contact with the substantially planar surface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter of the frame.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a motorized infant swing.

BACKGROUND

Infant child swings provide entertainment for children too small tooperate a normal swing. Although early swings used mechanical motors todrive the child, modern infant swings use a an electrocmechanical motorassembly. There are several design concerns for swing design. First, aswing must be stable and safe. Second, the swing should have maximumbattery life. Third, a child should be comfortable and entertained inthe swing. Fourth, the swing should be able to be easily packed andstored.

SUMMARY

The swing described herein addresses all of these design concerns. Aninfant swing comprises a seat with a padded seating area for an infantand a seat frame that supports said padded seating area, the seat framecomprising at least two upwardly extending arms. The swing alsocomprises two pivot housings rotatably connected to the at least twoupwardly extending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; and at least two feet in contact with the substantially planarsurface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter ofthe frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the swing with partial cutaways ofthe seat and one support.

FIG. 2 shows the cross sectional view along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the cross sectional view along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the cross sectional view along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A shows the cross-sectional view along the lines 4A-4A in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the pivot housing.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a swing foot.

FIG. 6A shows a perspective side view of the swing foot of FIG. 6showing the open cylinder in a partial cutaway.

FIG. 7 shows the seat and pivot housing engagement.

FIGS. 8-10 show the interior of the pivot housing showing the motorassembly.

FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of the motor assembly.

FIGS. 12 and 12A show an alternate embodiment of the arm plate.

FIG. 13 shows a back view of the seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 shows a swing 10 having a support frame 14 that supports ahanging padded seat 12 that synchronously swings about an axis ofrotation 16.

The frame 14 has front and rear spaced apart members 18, 19. Preferably,the spaced apart members 18, 19 are U-shaped and comprised of threelegs, two parallel and generally vertical, curved legs 20, 21 (thecutaway in FIG. 1 shows leg 21 beneath foam padding 24) joined by ahorizontal support leg 22. FIGS. 1-3 show the foam padding 24 coveringthe U-shaped members 18, 19. The padding 24 on the legs 20, 21 isthicker at the base of each parallel leg than at the top of the leg.This extra padding provides more cushioning in areas where the swingwill be bumped more, i.e. the bottom of the swing. Support leg padding26 covers the horizontal support leg 22 in a generally uniform manner.

FIGS. 3, 6, and 6A show a foot 40 with a through-hole 44 that receives aleg 20, 21 and an opening 42 that receives the support leg 22. Theframe's oversized semi-conical feet 40 extend outside the perimeter ofthe frame 14 to provide extra stability to the swing 10 duringoperation. The foot preferably includes an open cylinder 43 that acceptsa fastener 45, such as a screw or compression fitted snap member thatsecures it to the support leg 22. Of course, the foot 40 could beattached to the leg 20, 21 in a similar manner (not shown).

With reference to FIG. 4, The parallel legs 20, 21 removeably attach topivot housings 30, 31 by sliding the legs 20, 21 into recesses 32 in thepivot housings, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The legs 20, 21 eachcontain a spring-biased push button 34 that engages a correspondingbutton end 36 within the pivot housing 30. Pressing on the spring biasedrelease button 38 (biased by spring 38 a that presses against the button38 and stop 38 b) drives the button end 36 against the push button 34,which allows the leg 21 to be removed from the hole 32. FIG. 4 shows aleaf spring 35 as the bias element for the leg button 34, however, otherbias means such as compression springs or elastomeric filler could beused.

With reference to FIG. 1, the seat 12 comprises a padded seat cover 52and a seat frame 54. The padded seat cover has a leg portion 56 and aback portion 58, upon which a child's legs and back respectively rest.The padded seating area 52 also has a harness 57 that secures the childin the swing 10, and a padded headrest 59 for the child's head. Theharness engages the child's groin and shoulders. Webbing 55 (or otherpreferably flexible material could be used) attached to the seat 12discourages a child from reaching into the path of the swinging seat 12where a hand or leg could be injured.

The seat frame comprises at least one (although two are shown) upwardlyextending arms 60. The seat frame includes a leg member 62 and a backmember 64 shown with the padding removed in FIG. 7. The members 62, 64are contained within pockets in the padded seat 52 and provide a stablesurface for the child to sit upon.

The members 62, 64 are each rotatably connected to the upwardlyextending arms 60, such that the seat can be folded onto itself forstorage, or reclined for comfort. Reclining the seat about pins 61 ispossible by adjusting strap 63 that is connected to the padded seatcover 52. The seat back portion 58 cannot extend beyond a certainincline due to stops 67 positioned on the upwardly extending arms 60.Further, the stops do not prevent rotation in the path of reclinationbecause the stops 67 have rounded out portions 67 a that allow forrotation of the back and seat portions.

Folding for storage is best accomplished with the U-shaped members 18,19 removed from the housings 30, 31, and the seat folded on itself asshown in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 7, the arms 60 matingly engage an outward extending end100 of a shaft 102. The square end of the shaft that engages with thesquare receiving hole 101 in the arm 60 to matingly engage the arm 60and pivot housing 30, 31. As the square end of the shaft rotates (drivenby a motor discussed below), the seat 12 moves through its synchronousarc. The shaft 102 is rotatably disposed in the pivot housing 30 bymeans of bearing 104 having a hole 106 therethrough. The bearing isslididably engaged, such that it can only be removed to the interior ofthe housing 30, within a bearing hole 105.

FIGS. 8-11 show the motor assembly 200 contained within one half of thepivot housing 30 (the pivot housing 30 splits along seam 31 a and eachhalf of the housing is joined using screws 49 that extend from one halfof each housing to the other.

In operation, the motor 202, which is preferably battery operated bybatteries contained within the battery housing 203, turns a spinningworm gear 204. Screws 204 a and bracket 204 b hold the motor 204 withinits shaped housing 205 formed on the interior wall 30 a of the pivothousing 30.

The spinning worm gear 204 meshingly engages and turns a toothed gear206 in the direction indicated by arrow A. A C-clip 206 a connects thetoothed gear 206 to a gear seat pin 206 b having a groove 206 c thereonthat engages the clip 206 a about which the gear can freely rotate. Thetoothed gear 206 includes a rod 208 mounted eccentrically to a seat bymeans of a screw 207. The rod 208 moves within a slot 210 (embodimentshown in FIGS. 8-10) or partial slot (embodiment shown in FIGS. 11, 12,and 12A) in an arm plate 212. The rod's motion within the slot moves thearm plate 212 in a reciprocating motion. One or more arms 213 mounted onthe arm plate 212 within seats 313 push a stud 214 (or two studs in thecase of two arms) mounted on a stud plate 215. The arms 213 arepreferably made from thin flexible wire, and as shaped in the Figures,the arms are more prone to resist bending with time, as opposed to thearms 652 shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,766 to Hsia.

The stud plate shares the axis of rotation with the seat, but rotatesfreely with respect to the arm plate 212, and also turns the shaft 102.Turning the shaft 102 moves the upwardly extending arms 60, which inturn moves the seat through its synchronous arc.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 8-10 and 11-12A are somewhat different.In both embodiments, the arm plate 212 includes a hollow cylindricalsleeve 220 rotatably mounted on the shaft 102. Preferably, one or twoC-shaped clips 222 are fitted within an annular groove 224 (shown inFIG. 11) in the shaft 102 to prevent axial displacement of the sleeve220.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-10 uses two arms 213 on either side ofthe arm plate 212 to push against the studs and thus the motoreccentrically drives the seat through both directions of its synchronousarc. Each of the arms 213 engage each of the two studs 214 in such amanner that swinging of the arm plate 212 about the axis of rotation 16results in alternate pushing of the studs 214 by the arms 213, which, inturn, results in a synchronous swinging of the upwardly extending armsabout the axis of rotation 16.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 12A, by contrast, uses asingle arm 213 to move the seat along one direction of its synchronousarc. During the return path, the seat falls along the path due togravity because the partial slot 210 a does not engage the post 208during the “free fall” of the swing. Further, during this fall, themotor is not pushing the swing, which saves wear on the motor because itonly operates to push the swing in one direction. Finally, less plasticmaterial is needed in the arm plate 212.

External buttons 250 on the pivot housing 30 containing the motoroperate the motor 202. The buttons activate the motor and adjust itsspeed, which in turn adjusts the speed of the seat 12 along thesynchronous arc.

Buttons 250 on the housing also activate a sound system that can playmusic or sounds to entertain or soothe a child. The sound system is runby the circuit board 230 and the sound is generated through a speaker232. Buttons and/or dials 250 turn the system on, make adjustments involume, change the station, and/or change the sound generated.

A decorative display 70 mounts on the upwardly extending arm 60 toentertain the child. Such a display 70 could be removable if the childdid not like it, or could have a mobile type toy attached thereto thatswings with the motion of the seat along its synchronous arc.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. An infant swing comprising: a seat for holding aninfant, the seat comprising a padded seating area for an infant and aseat frame that supports said padded seating area, the seat framecomprising at least two upwardly extending arms; two pivot housingsrotatably connected to the at least two upwardly extending arms; asupport frame that extends upwardly from a substantially planar surface,the support frame engaging the pivot housings and allowing the seat torotate freely about the pivot housings; at least two feet in contactwith the substantially planar surface, engaging the frame, and extendingoutside an outer perimeter of the frame; said padded seating areafurther comprising a strap for adjusting a recline of a back portion ofthe seating area. 8-11. (canceled)
 12. An infant swing comprising: aseat for holding an infant, the seat comprising a padded seating areafor an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area,the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms; twopivot housings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardlyextending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; at least two feet in contact with the substantially planarsurface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter ofthe frame; wherein: the support frame is removably connected to thepivot housings, and the removable connection comprises at least onespring biased push button on the support frame that engages a receivingchannel in the pivot piece. 13-14. (canceled)
 15. An infant swingcomprising: a seat for holding an infant, the seat comprising a paddedseating area for an infant and a seat frame that supports said paddedseating area, the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extendingarms; two pivot housings rotatable connected to the at least twoupwardly extending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; at least two feet in contact with the substantially planarsurface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter ofthe frame; wherein: the support frame comprises two generally U-shapedmembers, wherein a leg of each U-shaped member engages a pivot housing;and the legs removeably engage the pivot housings by sliding the legsinto holes in the pivot housings; and the legs each contain a springbiased push button hold within the pivot housing.
 16. The infant swingof claim 15 wherein pressing on a spring biased release button on thepivot housing depresses the push button, which allows the leg to beremoved from the hole.
 17. (canceled)
 18. An infant swing comprising: aseat for holding an infant, the seat comprising a padded seating areafor an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area,the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms: twopivot housings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardlyextending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; at least two feet in contact with the substantially planarsurface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter ofthe frame; and wherein the support frame comprises two generallyU-shaped members having a padding material covering said members, saidpadding material tapering in thickness from an upper portion to a lowerportion of said U-shaped members so that the padding material is thickerat the lower portions of the U-shaped members closer to the planarsurface.
 19. The infant swing of claim 18 wherein padding covers theframe between the at least two feet and the pivot housings.
 20. Theinfant swing of claim 18 wherein the feet are conically shaped so that alarger diameter end of said feet rest on said planar surface. 21-22.(canceled)
 23. The infant swing of claim 20 further comprisinghorizontally aligned parallel support legs, wherein at least two of theparallel legs are padded in an area of the parallel legs between thefeet and the pivot housing and the support legs are joined to conicalfeet at the lower ends of the parallel legs and are covered with apadding material. 24-39. (canceled)
 40. An infant swing comprising: aseat for holding an infant, the seat comprising a padded seating areafor an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area,the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms; twopivot housings rotatable connected to the at least two upwardlyextending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; at least two feet in contact with the substantially planarsurface, engaging the frame, and extending outside an outer perimeter ofthe frame; wherein decorative displays are configured to be releaseablymounted on at least one of the upwardly extending arms and swing withswinging of said arms.
 41. (canceled)
 42. An infant swing comprising: aseat for holding an infant, the seat comprising a padded seating areafor an infant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area,the seat frame comprising at least two upwardly extending arms; twopivot housings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardlyextending arms; a support frame that extends upwardly from asubstantially planar surface, the support frame engaging the pivothousings and allowing the seat to rotate freely about the pivothousings; wherein at least one of the pivot housings contains a driveassembly including a motor swing the upwardly extending arm joined to anaxle; wherein the motor drives a worm shaft that meshingly engages arotatable gear with a rod mounted eccentrically thereon, the rodengaging a slot in an arm plate such that rotation of the motor resultsin an eccentric movement of the rod that rotates the arm plate, which isprovided with at least one wire secured to said arm plate and beingformed in a U-shape to form a flexible pusher which pushes a stud on astud plate that rotates the axle to thereby rotate the upwardlyextending arm. 43-44. (canceled)
 45. An infant swing comprising: a seatfor holding an infant, the seat comprising a padded seating area for aninfant and a seat frame that supports said padded seating area, the seatframe comprising at least two upwardly extending arms; two pivothousings rotatably connected to the at least two upwardly extendingarms; a support frame that extends upwardly from a substantially planarsurface, the support frame engaging the pivot housings and allowing theseat to rotate freely about the pivot housings; wherein at least one ofthe pivot housings containS a drive assembly including a motor to swingthe upwardly extending arm joined to an axle; wherein the motor drives aworm shaft that meshingly engages a rotatable gear with a rod mountedeccentrically thereon, the rod engaging edges of a partial slot in anarm plate during a first portion of a full rotation of said gear suchthat rotation of the motor results in an eccentric movement of the rodthat in turn pushes the arm plate, which is provided with a wire securedat one end to the arm plate and extends away from said arm plate and isbent into a U-shape to provide a flexible pusher arm which pushes a studon a stud plate that rotates the axle; and the edges of said partialslot being displaced from said stud during a second portion of fullrotation of said gear.
 46. The infant swing of claim 45 wherein theupwardly extending arm moves in a second direction under the influenceof gravity during a second portion of the full rotation of said gear.47. (canceled)
 48. (canceled)